App State opens first phase of Kidd Brewer Stadium north end zone facility

BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University Chancellor Sheri Everts led a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday, Nov. 13, for the Kidd Brewer Stadium north end zone facility — referred to generally as the End Zone Project — which will accommodate various athletic, academic and community uses.

“This building represents another tremendous milestone as we build infrastructure that supports and elevates Appalachian’s mission,” Everts said. “It is a space where members of the App State Community, and so many others, will host academic conferences, hold meetings, watch athletic events, gather socially and meaningfully engage with our university.”

Features of the mixed-use athletics facility include:

• A total of 88,233 square feet of indoor space — built for LEED certification — plus more than 1,000 balcony seats with unimpeded sightlines of the stadium.
• The Grandview Ballroom, located on the fourth floor, can accommodate up to 1,000 guests and be used for such events as academic conferences, receptions and/or banquets. The ballroom’s floor-to-ceiling windows offer sweeping views of Kidd Brewer Stadium and Howard’s Knob.
• Housing for App Catering and a state-of-the-art catering kitchen; athletic and ticketing offices; and a weight room, locker room, team lounge, hydrotherapy treatment area and team store.
• Notable design features include a glass elevator tower and roll-up garage doors in the weight room to allow fresh air for indoor/outdoor workouts.

Speaking outside the facility’s main entrance, the chancellor addressed a small group of invited guests, as attendance was limited by COVID-19 restrictions. The guests were Philip Byers, representing the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors, and App State Board of Trustees members Scott Lampe, chair; Mark Ricks, vice chair; Tommy Sofield; and Michael Davis, president of App State’s Student Government Association.

Doug Gillin, App State’s director of athletics, said, “The vision was to create a world-class facility, one that would allow the university to continue to recruit students who can compete in the classroom as well as on the field.” He said the multiuse facility will benefit various groups within the university and Boone communities, adding, "This building helps make Kidd Brewer Stadium one of the best venues of its size in the country."

App State’s Paul Forte, vice chancellor for business affairs, commended the chancellor for her vision and leadership, along with Gillin and John Eckman, associate vice chancellor for campus services, for their collaboration. He also thanked the many contributors and stakeholders for their cooperation and expertise.

“We know this facility will be an epicenter of activity for our campus community and far beyond,” Forte said, “and we hope to welcome you all back for years to come.”

The total budget for the End Zone Project is $50 million, funded through donations to Appalachian Athletics’ A Mountaineer Impact: A Drive for Excellence fundraising initiative, club seat revenue, Campus Services revenue and debt through Millennial Campus designation, which will be repaid using tenant lease revenue.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Kidd Brewer Stadium welcomed 2,170 fans for Saturday’s football game against Georgia State University. Of the north end zone facility’s new balcony seats, 70 were available for use. Read App State Athletics’ latest football spectator update for more information.

App State is currently taking reservations for the Grandview Ballroom — subject to COVID-19 restrictions — for spring 2021 and beyond. Make a reservation and/or email grandview@appstate.edu for more information about the venue.

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Kidd Brewer Stadium — North End Zone

Appalachian’s Future

Read how Appalachian State University’s north end zone project at Kidd Brewer Stadium will provide new, exciting space for use by athletics and academics.

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About Mountaineer Athletics

More than 400 student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I varsity sports at Appalachian State University. App State’s nationally ranked football team has enjoyed unprecedented success at the highest level of Division I (Football Bowl Subdivision), with six bowl wins in its first six years at the FBS level and four Sun Belt Conference championships. The Mountaineers were a dominant force in the Southern Conference for more than 40 years before moving up to the Sun Belt Conference in 2014. App State student-athletes in all sports pursue daily comprehensive excellence in academics, competition and community involvement. All varsity teams compete in the Sun Belt Conference, except for field hockey (MAC) and wrestling (SoCon). Learn more at https://appstatesports.com.

About Appalachian State University

As the premier public undergraduate institution in the Southeast, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls nearly 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.